TEAM LOWRANCE VICTORY IN GUINJATA

20 Aug 2012

They did it! Springbok angler Lynette Adams and her Team Lowrance won the recent Guinjata Bonanza held in Mozambique –fulfilling their lifelong dream of winning a major competition.

When Nikolas Glyphis caught the heaviest gamefish - a 27.7kg Wahoo, on the second day of this five- day competition, there was no containing their excitement as this was an obvious contender for the main prize – but they also had to endure an agonizing wait for the next four days as the competition played out among the many top anglers taking part. At stake? A Z-Craft F200 skiboat, with twin 115HP Mercury 4-stroke motors on a trailer – worth around R500 000.

Months of careful planning and days of practice at various fishing spots beforehand had paid off - the team had arrived five days ahead of time to familiarize themselves with the waters and their Lowrance/Boating International/Club Marine Insurance-sponsored Ace Glider 750 with twin 250HP Mercury Verado outboards.

While the other competitors were convinced that they were tempting fate and using up all their luck – the team took it as a good sign when they hooked and released six Billfish in their three run-up practice days. They had already decided not to go for Species prizes but to concentrate on the “Big One” and it turned out to be a winning choice.

Everyone was disappointed when the first day was blown out – so serious fishing only really got underway on the second day of the competition - in moderate conditions with an average wind and swell. Lynette and her crew comprising Sefan du Plessis, Brandon Swanepoel, Paul Borcherds and Nikolas Glyphis headed off to the deep off Legogo – where their winning fish was there for the picking.

After Nikolas hooked the big Wahoo, they reversed up very quickly as it was clear that this was a possible winner. Lynette said every weigh-in after the first day proved agonizing – waiting to see if another fish would challenge this 27.7kg beauty – which ultimately stayed on top of the leader board.

She says “we held our breath for four days – so the relief was indescribable when we realized we’d won”! Although Lynette has had huge success as a top angler over the years (she also caught a 65kg Sailfish and a 22kg Tuna among others) this was her first real crack at winning the boat. She and her delighted team also hooked and released another two Billfish during the competition.